Hundreds Pay Tribute To Slain Oakland Security Guard

About 300 people, including more than 50 security guards from a variety of agencies, paid tribute to slain security guard Bounhom Manyvong at a funeral service in East Oakland Tuesday.

Manyvong, 59, who immigrated to the U.S. from Laos in 1982, was shot at the AutoZone store at 10111 International Blvd. shortly after 7 p.m. on Dec. 19. He died about an hour later.

Most of the service at the Fuller Funeral Home on International Boulevard was conducted in Laotian, but Thomas Manyvong, who serves in the 27th special operation medical support unit at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, spoke in English when he honored his father.

"Everyone knows we lost a great man and we're going to miss him," said Manyvong, who is one of Bounhom Manyvong's six sons. All of the sons attended the service, as did Bounhom Manyvong's wife, who sobbed frequently.

Thomas Manyvong said, "My father served in the military in Laos and fought against the communists and then he immigrated to America."

Manyvong said, "He taught me to be strong and to join the military and then this happened and it hurts."

Fighting back tears and speaking in a breaking voice, Manyvong said, "There's so much pain it can't be described."

Referring to his military service, Manyvong said, "Every time I came home I would get to see him, but not this time."

He said his father "was a good man and he loved everybody and treated everybody equally."

Manyvong vowed, "Our family will stay strong" and said he appreciates the many prayers and condolences they have received from the community.

Concluding, Manyvong said, "I love you dad. You will be missed."

Bounhom Manyvong's body lay in an open casket during the service, which included chants by monks in orange robes. Floral arrangements crowded the podium.

At the end of the service, mourners passed by the casket one-by-one and sprayed perfume on his body. Many people also placed money in his pockets.

At the end of the service, pallbearers carried Manyvong's casket past a long line of security guards to a black hearse.

Mourners then drove across town for a burial at Mountain Cemetery at 5000 Piedmont Ave.

Peter Duccini, the president and chief executive of Freedom Hawk Security in Rohnert Park, said Manyvong's killing has put security guards on edge. The shooting illustrates that "anything can happen anytime," he said.

Manyvong worked for St. Moritz Security Services Inc., but Duccini said guards who work for many different agencies came to the service because "one of our own has fallen."

Duccini said security guards throughout the Bay Area "are looking for the suspects and will report them to the police to bring them to justice."

He said Manyvong's death "will not go unnoticed."

On Monday, Oakland police asked for the public's help in solving the murder and released images of three suspects taken from surveillance cameras.

One is described as a black man in his 20s who is 6 feet tall with a thin build. He was wearing a fur-lined green jacket, a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

The second is a black man in his 20s who, 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

Police say the third suspect may have been the lookout and describe him as a black man in his 20s, between 5 feet 6 and 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a Cincinnati Reds baseball hat, a red jacket and black pants.

Oakland police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $15,000 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects in the case.

Anyone with information can call Oakland police at (510) 238-3821 or Crime Stoppers at (510) 777-8572 or (510) 777-3211.

St. Moritz Security Services Inc., the firm that employed Manyvong, has set up a memorial fund for his family.

Checks payable to St. Moritz Security Services Inc. can be sent to Officer Manyvong, Bounhom Fund, c/o St. Moritz Security, 4600 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15236.